Radio tube socket



Jgn. 14, 1936. Y J. F. ANDERSON 2,028,035

` RADIO TUBE socKE'r 1 Filed Sept. 18, 1930 Patented Jan. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES RADIO TUBE SOCKET John F. Anderson, Chicago, lll., assignor to Continental-Diamond Fibre Company, Newark, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application September 2 Claims.

This invention pertains to radio tube sockets and has for its main object the provision of improved means for lending the necessary resiliency to the socket elements of such devices.

The socket elements which receive the prongs of a radio tube are usually made of phosphor bronze and do not have the necessary resiliency to insure good Acontact with tube prongs at all times.

My invention provides an improved spring which is preferably though not necessarily in the form of a leaf conforming to the shape of and closely embracing the sides of the socket element, and having a part which underlies the element and is confined between the latter and the mounting panel. With this arrangement, there is no tendency for the spring to loosen and the spring promotes constant and positive pressure of the socket element on the tube prong.

While I prefer this construction and arrangement, I may employ any type of auxiliary spring to obtain the .desired resiliency of the socket element.

Another feature of my invention is the provision of a non-circular, prong-receiving portion of the socket element which gives a firmer grip and more sure contact than a circular receiving portion.

Still another feature of my invention is the alternative use of a socket element made of spring steel instead of phosphor bronze, as has been the custom heretofore. This new element has in itself suicient resiliency to eliminate the necessity for an extra spring if desired. With a phosphor bronze socket element, a separate spring is necessary because this metal lacks resiliency. However, it has been used becausel of its relatively high conductivity. Steel lacks high conductivity but I avoid this objection by plating the steel socket element with copper and, in turn, plate the copper layer with cadmium in order to make soldering to the element readily possible. Since, as is well known, the high frequency currents employed in radio travel on the surface of metal conductors rather than through the center, the copper o plating gives the steel socket element as high a conductivity as though the entire element were made of copper or bronze.

The above objects and features will be clearer from the following description and the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows a portion of the mounting panel for a radio tube socket with one socket element and its associated spring attached thereto, the panel 18, 1930, Serial No. 482,883

being shown in section for a clearer understanding;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my improved spring; f

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a socket element having incorporated therein my improved prongreceiving portion; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a socket element using a rather long solder lug which I have found desirable.

Referring to Fig. l, there is shown a mounting panel I, which may be formed of suitable insulating material such as bakelite and which supports the socket elements by means of rivets. It will be understood, of course, that the number of elements in any particular socket depends upon the number of prongs on the tube to be used therewith, the socket elements being arranged in the proper positions to receive the prongs. In the drawing, only one element and a portion of thc mounting panel is shown, since the other elements are identical therewith. The panel I has drilled holes 2 and 3 therein, the former receiving the rivet I and the latter providing a passage for the radio tube prong when inserted in the receiving portion of socket element 4. The rivet 'I passes through panel I and also through holes in spring 6 and socket element 4, thereby attaching the latter two elements rmly to the panel. The socket element 4 is, of course, aligned with hole 3 to receive the tube prong. Socket element 4 is provided with a lug 5 for attachment of a conductor thereto as is customary in the art.

Fig. 2 shows more clearly my improved spring 6 which is formed of a single piece of steel to provide a flat portion 8 with depending leaves I2 and I3, the ends of the latter being formed to provide clamping portions I4 and I5. This spring is formed so as to conform in shape with the socket element 4, shown more clearly in Fig. 3. The spring closely embraces the element, portions of the spring being positioned between the mounting panel and the socket element. A hole 9 is formed in portion 8 and lugs I0 and II are provided on the sides thereof. The rivet 1 passes through hole 9 and the lugs I0 and Il engage recesses in the panel I to prevent turning of the spring and socket element. It is important to note in this connection that heretofore lugs have been formed on the socket element for this purpose.

In Fig. 3, the socket element is shown more clearly. This element is the same as is used in the art ordinarily except that the prong-receiving portion is angularly formed instead of being circular. This insures better contact between 4 is formed of a single piece of phosphor bronze metal to have a iiat base portion I6 and depending members only one of which i8 is visible) whose ends 2B and 2l are enlarged and formed as shown to provide a non-circular receiving portion for the tube prong. As illustrated, the depending members each comprise a lateral wing extending integrally from and at right angles to base I6 and a leaf-like elongated contact member extending integrally from and at right angles to the wing. A solder lug 5 extends backwardly from portion I6 and is provided with holes 22. A hole Il is provided in portion I6 for the reception of the rivet 1. In assembling the device,'the spring 6 is placed over socket element 4 so that leaf members l2 and I3 closely embrace the depending members of the element and clamps M and I5 embrace portions 20 and 2| of the element. It will be apparent that the spring will rmly support the socket element and will cause the latter to exert constant pressure on the tube prong.

Shown in Fig. 4 is a socket element which may take the same general form as that shown in Fig. 3 except that it is provided with a long solder lug 29 having tangs 30 which may be bent to embrace the conductor. This socket element is, of course, made of a single piece of metal and formed to have the flat portion 23, depending members 25 and 2S, and prong-receiving portions 21 and 28. A hole 24 is, of course, provided for attachment to the base plate.

I have discovered that the necessity for a spring member may be eliminated by making the socket element of spring steel instead of phosphor bronze as previously stated. It is to be understood, therefore, thatthe socket elements described and il-v lustrated may be either of phosphor bronze or of spring steel plated with copper and cadmium. My improved spring may, of course, be used in any event, but a spring is unnecessary when my improved socket element of steel is used, since the steel has suilieient resiliency to act as the and much cheaper to manufacture. As previously stated, the objectionable non-conductivity of the steel is completely eliminated by means of the copper plating, which functions just as well, since the high frequency currents now along the surface of a conductor. Obviously, any or all of the improved features of my radio tube socket may be used.

Since my invention is capable of many changesand modifications, I desire it to be understood that it is not to be limited by the disclosure but only by the scope of the appended claims.

1. A tube socket structure of the character described, comprising a fiat support having an opening therein for the reception of a tube prong, a contact device having a at base disposed beneath the under side of said support in parallel relation thereto and secured to said support adjacent said opening, a pair of opposed arms extending downwardly from said flat base and terminating in end portions extending beneath said opening for the reception of a tube prong inserted therethrough, and a. spring device having a flat base interposed between said support `and said first-mentioned base, and a pair of opposed spring arms extending downwardly from said last-mentioned base and along said end portions, said spring arms embracing said flrstvmentioned arms and seid end portions.

neath the under side of said support in parallel relation thereto and secured to said support adjacent said opening, a pair of opposed arms extending downwardly from said at base and having free end portions extending parallel to said support beneath said opening for the reception of a tube prong inserted therethrough, and a spring device having a flat base interposed between said support and said rst-mentioned base, and a pair of opposed spring arms extending downwardly from said last-mentioned base and along said end portions, said spring arms embracing said first-mentioned arms and said end portions.

JOHN F. ANDERSON. 

